I have another finish to share with you. This too is a design from Catherine Theron. There is a matching biscornu that goes with it. I've been stitching like crazy to try to finish it, but I'm not even close. I'll keep plugging away and share it with you when I am finished.
Sometimes I think I should stitch my initials "out of order" as ABC!
It was a productive day on the homefront, but I'm feeling kind of tuckered out. I think I hear my stitching chair calling!
This little needlebook is a design from Betsy Morgan. I happened across the kit for it last week on eBay. I suspect that Betsy may have offered this in conjunction with one of her classes. The pattern was dated 2010.
It's not very large - only 2 x 1.5 when folded. The bunny was supposed to be stitched in a multicolored silk (purple, green, gold...). It just wasn't speaking to me so I stitched the bunny in a soft brown. (Amy W.- if you are reading this, I was thinking about you when I made my changes - LOL!)
Quick and easy to stitch and finish.
Nearing the halfway mark; my Randje sampler is nearly three feet long. I only stitched one of the bands this week. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I want to stitch the other one. I'm not particularly fond of Blackwork or the double-running stitch!
If you are a regular reader of my blog you know that I am on the road a lot, for work and for pleasure. Today, however, I discovered that some of the most interesting places can be found close to home.
I went to an arts and craft fair in an older neighborhood in St. Paul, MN this morning. The proceeds from the fair benefit the local library. I honestly don't think I ever have visited this part of town before. The library is a stately building with beautiful architecture surrounded by a beautiful green landscape with gardens that were just starting to bloom. (Remember- everything blooms later here in the north!)
Across the street there was this great little bakery - The Finnish Bistro. I picked up a couple of pieces of almond Kringle which we will enjoy later this evening.
It's a beautiful day here in Minnesota!
About two months ago, one of my favorite quilting/crafting stores advertised a bus tour. I've received emails about their bus tours before but have never gone and decided to give it a try. I asked one of My usual "partners in crime" if she was interested in checking it out and she said "yes".
Our tour departed at 7:30am (a tad bit early for me, but hey, I can snooze on the bus!). We headed about 90 minutes south of the Twin Cities to New Ulm, MN - a community settled by German and Bohemian immigrants.
Our first stop was at a quilt store just outside of downtown called "Sewing Seeds Quilt Company". This shop is featured in the current "top ten shops" quilt magazine. They were ready for us! Coffee, juice, fruit, and muffins downstairs and lots of fabric and wool upstairs. My favorite room was the one filled with civil war fabrics.
After the quilt shop, we headed downtown New Ulm. The bus dropped us off in a convenient spot and we were free to shop for about 90 minutes. Two quilt shops, an antique shop, a needlework shop and a few gift shops later, we were ready for lunch!
The needlework shop was called "Nadel Kunst" - German for needleart. (Note the sign for tatting classes on the door!)
We had a delicious lunch at Turner Hall in the Ratskellar. I had a "German" dinner - two different types of sausages with sauerkraut, German potato salad, and Spätzle. Also a piece of really good dark rye bread.
We actually hit one of the quilt shops after lunch and went in a few othe shops before returning to the bus.
This is the museum in New Ulm. This building reminded me of buildings in Germany.
This was a pretty cool pole. Various attractions in New Ulm are featured on each of the "tree limbs." (Yes, you were right Chris, I should have taken the picture from the other direction!)
One of the attractions in New Ulm is a huge statue of Herman the German. Wait a minute, that's not Herman. That's me!
Stopped for pie at Emma Krumbees in Belle Plaine on the way home. I would do this again. It was a good day!
I'm on a roll here with Catherine Theron projects...this little scissors minder has been stitched up since March. I finally took time to do the finishing on it. It's a sweet little fob!
Despite the rainy day and the cold I am fighting, I had a productive day! I finished Winter Strawberries from Catherine Theron. This project was Catherine's guild project for 2015. It didn't take too long to stitch (although I had some counting challenges!) The finishing wasn't too bad either. Am really happy with my finish.
You thought I forgot, didn't you? I had this all stitched up last Friday night but was pre-occupied with other things and didn't get this picture posted. I am ready for Week 21!
Pictures are dark as I am living in a hotel room again this week. I bought a light that I thought would work well when I travel. Pros: very compact and lightweight. Operates via battery but also comes with a USB cord. 12 LED lights, three different light settings. Cons: wasn't enough light for me to work over one, but I think it would be fine for over two stitching. It was about $24, it's from Ideaworks, and I bought it on Amazon. I think it will work well for me.
Second picture....I have my stitching done for Winter Strawberries. Hurray!
A few more details about last weekend....
1) To get to the Country Sampler, we exited I-94 and drove down Highway 58 - what a beautiful drive. Lucious green valley, beautifully maintained farms, rich farm fields - wish I could have taken some pictures to share with you. It was a picture perfect drive.
2) We had a nice visit at the Country Sampler - a mix of quilting and cross stitch. Beautiful models of both throughout the shop. If you like Prim, this is a good place to shop!
3) The reason for our trip? To take Sherri Jones' Blue Ribbon Sewing Box. The class was hosted by Lynn's of Madison. Great finishing class. The box is lovely. My two traveling companions already have their stitching finished and their boxes put together.
4) After class, we visited Lynn's of Madison. Interesting shop - combination of art supplies and needlework. Always lots of eye candy though - great models on the walls.
5) Great conversation and great food on Saturday night - thanks Polly!
It was a quick trip, and lots of fun!
Here are some pictures of the models on display at Lynn's - enjoy!
First we stopped here...
And then we stopped here...
And then today we were here...
It's been a great weekend!
I'm behind on all of my other stitching projects, but not Randje! Here's this week's installment:
I have some pre-work that needs to be done for a class next weekend. I don't think I am going to get it done. I need to pick up Sojourner again - really far behind on that. I have the last Installment on a friend's friendship sampler to get finished. So much to stitch, so little time.
I was saddened to read on Facebook that Diane Clements passed away. I really wanted to take a class from her sometime. She was a very talented Needleworker and designer. She will be missed.
On this Mother's Day weekend, I fulfilled one of my Mother's requests. So simple really, we should have done it a long time ago. She's always wanted to go to IHOP. So this morning - we went to IHOP!
Enjoy your weekend!
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